Date and city for The International 2023 announced

The International will return to its most frequent city in 2023, Valve has officially confirmed.

The International 2023 will mark the 12th iteration of the biggest tournament in esports. With a battle pass due out to help crowdfund the event and the competitive scene incredibly close at the top level, this year’s TI is set to be one of the most exciting yet. To help drum up hype before the Bali Major, Valve has finally revealed the dates and plans for the event.

The International 2023 chosen city finally returns to Seattle

The International 2023 will take in Seattle, Washington, from October 14 to 29, with the playoffs starting on October 27.

That information was revealed on April 7 in an official blog post from Valve. As in the past few years, fans won’t be able to see the group stage in person. The Climate Pledge Arena will open up for the last three days of the competition, giving fans in-person access to the biggest event of the year. Tickets for the event are not yet available, but Valve has promised to reveal more details after the Bali Major during the Road to The International.

Seattle is a historic city for Dota 2. While the very first TI was held in Cologne, Germany, The International 2012 through 2017 was held in the Key Arena. The Climate Pledge Arena is actually the same venue but has undergone a name change and plenty of renovations since it last hosted the event. That time period is when TI became internationally recognized as the biggest event in esports, as the prize pool ballooned from $1.6 million to $24.8 million over those six tournaments. It’s also very close to Valve’s headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, making it a convenient location for the company.